Wood-treating machine.



G. -F. LEATHBRBBE.

WOOD TREATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 3.4, 1910.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

5 QHEETB-BHBET 1.

G. F. LBATHERBBE.

WOOD TREATING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION IILED 11.4, 1010.

Patelited Aug. 18,1914.

5 sums-sum 2.

0. F. LEATHERBEE.

WOOD TREATING MACHINE. APPLIOATIOK FILED APflA, 1910.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

5 BHEETEHHEET 3.

WH'WI ESSJES C(F. LEATHERBEE.

woon TREATING mcnmn.

APPLIOATIOH FILED APBA, I910.

Patented Aug, 18, 191i 5 BHBBTB-BHEBT 4.

WIITNESSES C. F. LEATHERBEE.

WOOD TREATING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR.4.'1910.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

'5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

N? m m I 1 mm P m3 QN mi Ki UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLIFTON F. LEATHERBEE, OF NEVv/TON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO PAINTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF ,KITTERY MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

WOOD-TREATING MACHINE:

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18, 19114:.

To all whom it may concern:

3e it known' that I, CLIFTON F. LnArI-innman, a citizen of the United States, res1dmg at Newton, in the county of Middlcscx and State of ltlassachusetts, have invented certain. new and useful Improvements in Vood- Treating Machines, of which the following is specification.

The present invention relates to machines for applying liquids and fluids of various kinds to the surfaces of materials of various contours, and more especially to ap paratus which may be used to dry lengtl'is of flooring, strips of molding, cross arms, and like strips or lengths of material which have been subjected to the application of paint, stain, vanish, creosote and other finishing or preservative substances.

The principal objects of my present invention are the provision of a machine characterized asabove noted which is adapted to receive and dry the treated material speedily and to provide improved means for removing the treated material from the machine and keeping it exposed to the atn'iosphere for a certain period of time to the end that it may dry and be more readily handled. as well as certain further objects l1crcin:-rfter more fully to appear.

ln the attainment of the objects above set forth, together with additional :ulvantages to be disclosed below, I have provided a cm'istruction, a preferred emlnulimcnt of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a side clevational view, partly in section, illustrating the feeding lluid applying and polishing mechanism; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line IIL-III of Fig. 2; Fig. 4c is a plan view of the ')referrcd form of conveying and elevating mechani-an utilized by me in connection with the machine of Figs. 1 to 3; Fig. 5 is an end cle 'ational view of a portion of the apparatus of Fig. 4, part of such apparatus having been removed and part shown in section taken on the line VII-VII of Fig. 1-; Fig. l) is an enlarged view similar to Fig. 5, showing certain details of the operating pa ts on an enlarged scale; Fl 's 7 and Sare further enlarged detailed views of certain elements of the device of Figs. -l-, 5 and (3; Fig. 9 is a side elcvational view taken on the line .XI--XI of Fig. 3: l igs. I0, 11 and '12 are detailed views of the'device of Figs. 8 and 9, Fig. 12 beingtaken on the line XIV- XIV of Fig. 11.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, it will be noted that in carrying out my invention I make use of a framing 20, preferably of cast; metal provided at each end with supports 20, which may be conveniently located adjacent to the end of a planer or other machine for forming flooring, wainscoting and similar products. At the delivery end of the machine, I provide a primary belt conveyor 2]. longitudinally disposed with relation thereto for removing the treated material discharged therefrom and in alinement with but on a plane below the conveyer 21, for a purpose to be below described, a secondary belt conveyor 22 for receiving and delivering such articles.

In order that the increase of cost and loss of time incident. to rehandling the material after leaving the planer, may be saved and to insure a direct feed of such material through the machine without lateral displactancnt, it may be fed by the live rolls of the planer; otherwise such feed may be etl'ectcd by the oppositely disposed live rolls 23 and 2-1- driven from the motor 25 through the gearing to he hereinafter described. A

stationary guide block 26 and a spring guide 27 disposed oppositely thereto and cooperating therewith are located closely adjacent the rolls 23 and 2 t to insure the alinement of the material as it is fed through the machine. A roll E28 is provided for the initial support of the fed material, and as it passes the rolls23 and it is successively engaged by the single idler roll 30, and the pairs of live rolls 31, 32, and 33, 34 adapted to hold it in contact with the brush devices 35, $36, 37 and 38, designed respectively for applying the liquid, for rubbing it in, for wiping any excess from the edges of the materials and for removing any vestiges from the face thereof.

On viewing Fig. I particularly it will be observed that l mount in the framing .20 the rotatable brush movable vertically to the end that compensation may made for wear in service by means of its suspension in the outer ends of the yoke -l-t') pivoted in the casing as indicated at 41, ll, one of which is provided with an adjusting screw 42.

For the purpose of furnishing a supply of treating liquid to the brush 15, I make use of a pump to to lift the liquid from the supply tank 46 by the pipes l-T and 48 lead ing from such tank and venting just above the spreader plate pivoted at 51 to a transverse septum 52 in the framing and held in contact with the brush 35 by means of an adjusting screw 53 threaded into an enlarged portion of the framing at the angle 54, whereby Wear of the brushmay be further compensated for. The floor 55 of the framing forms-a drip pan for the Several .brushes and a drain pipe 56 continuously shaft 63 carrying the roll 34. The opposite end of the shaft 63 is provided with a gear- 65 which by means of a chain 66 drives the gear 67 mountedvon the shaft 68 of the roll 32. The shaft 68 carries on theend, (opposite to that carrying the gears 67 and 69),

a gear 73 driving, by means of the intermediate gears 74 on a shaft 74, and 75 on the shaft 76, the gear 75 on the shaft 76 carrying the roll 31. At the end of said shaft 7 6 is mounted a sprocket wheel 77 driving by means of the chain 7 8 the pump 45. On the end of the shaft 72 opposite the sprocket 71 is carried a gear 79 which through intermediate gears 80 on theshaft 80*,an'd 81 on the shaft'82 drives the gear 82 on the shaft 83, carrying the roll 23. Upon said shaft'82 is mounted a pinion 83 driving through the chain 84 the sprocket 85 on the shaft 86 carrying the brush 35. .1

In order that the upper rolls 23, 30, 31 and 33 may be adjusted axially to accommodate materials of differing thicknesses, and that they may be conveniently removed where desirable, T preferably mount them in the opposing members of pairs of boxes 88,

89, 90 and 91 pivoted to opposite sides of the framing 20, each box being provided at its free end with an adjustable screw device 92 having engagement with an extension of the box and inserted in a socket formed in the framing. Springs 92 92 under a certain degree of compression are. mounted upon the said screwdevices 92 on both sides of said extension in order to compensate for any slight unevennesses in the material.

Inasmuch as I have designed the machine illustrated as an embodiment of my present invention primarily for the purpose of applying a highly volatile treating compound to flooring, the respective sizes of the pulley 77 and 77. by which the pump is driven through the belt 7 8, should be so proportioned that as closely as possible the precise amount of liquid that may be taken up by the brush 35 be delivered upon the spreader plate 50, in orderto avoid any accumulation upon the drip v.pan 55 or the rolls. As a further precaution against spattering of the liquid, or throwing thereof from the brush' 35,. I provide such brush with a cover 35, open at the top, and supported by-the shaft 86 and yoke 40. This is especially desirable since myimproved machine is used with great economy for the treatment of flooring as it issues from the planer, and such locations usually present a considerable amount of dust, chips, shavings and other highly inflammable substances.

Each of the stationary brush devices 36 and38-is vertically adjustable by means respectively of the screw devices'95, 96 threaded intoa bottom extens'ion'of the framing. 20, to the end that compensation may be had for any wear of such brushes in service, and eachjof the brushes 37,37 is adjustable laterally by the screw members 97, 97

threaded into the sides of the-framing 20 and resting at their inner ends in the stop blocks 98, carried upon a plate 99 supported by the angle bars 99,. 99, alsormounted in the framing 20, for the purpose of limiting the inward movement of the said brushes 37.

For a three-fold purpose, viz., alining the material in its passage through the machine,

directing it'between the two brushes 37, and holding it in contact with the brush 36 (here shown'as made inthree parts carried placement and in order that unequal wear of the several parts may be cared for'without discarding unworn portions) I provide the cotiperating spring device comprising the laterally pressing, oppositely disposed springs 100, 100 adjustably mounted in blocks 101, 101 carried by "the yoke 102, and

the downwardly pressing spring 103 in the block 104, proyided upon said yoke 102 be tween the springs 100.

Referring now more particularly to Fi s. 4 to 12, it will be observed that as tie treated material issues from between the rolls 33 and 34, it is deposited on one end of the belt conveyer 21 and thence discharged upon the secondary belt conveyer 22, disposed on a lower plane to the end that (is: livery of material from the machine upon in a frame for the sake of convenience in rethe conveyor 21 may not interfere with the action of the device by means of which the attendant of the machine of Figs. 1-3 removes the material for drying from the conveyer 22 to the apparatus below to be described. The belt is provided at intervals with cleats 22, preferably of inverted V-shape, disposed transversely thereof, tor the purposes of preventing contact of the treated surface of the material with such belt and consequent marring of such treated surface or soiling of the belt or both, and to provide ways upon which the removing device may slide freely. The removing device, as may be clearly seen in Figs. 4 and 5, comprises in preferred form a fulcrumed hand lever 110 carrying pivotally mounted thereon an actuating rod 111 which has attached thereto a connecting bar 112 to which are pivotally mounted the outer ends 113, 113 of a plurality of rocking lcvers 114:, 114, the opposite ends 115, 115 of which levers are attached to a strip 116 disposed longitudinally of the conveyor belt 22 and adaptedto be moved transversely thereof in order to-remove from such belt the material and deposit it upon the angularly disposed guideways 117 from which it taken up for drying by means of the elcvating and lowering mechanism proper now to be described.

From the guides 11.7 the material passcs on to one of the sets of fingers '1 18 provided at intervals on the longitudinal members 115) (here shown as pipes) supported at each end upon links 01 the endless chains 120, 120 engaging sprockets 1 1 and 122 (Fig. (3). One of the upper sprockets 121 driven intermittently, in a manner to be hereafter more fully described, from a shaft 12?) which has suitable clutch driving connections to the hub of the sprocket 12-4.- aud driven from the motor 25 through a s 'irocket 121 niounted on said shaft 12 a pair of sprockets (33 and (33 on the shaft (23, and a sprocket (32% on the shaft (15}, chains, tit and 13:1 connecting said several sprockets and driving the two conveyors in unison. The sprocket 12 1 is adapted to drive by means of the chain 125, a. sprocket 1% carried on the shaft 127, which in turn by means of a worm 12S drives a gear 12$) keyed on thoshalt 130 which carries the s 'irocket 121.

It will be apparent from an inspection of Figs. 7 and 8, the pipe 111) are mounted against rotation relative to the chain 120 by flattening them and riveting them to the extended wings 131, 13]. provided on the alternate links of the chain 120.

As is clearly to be seen on viewing Figs. 5 and 6, there is disposed opposite to each of the fingers 1 18, a linger provided with a bent portion 33. the purpose of such construction being that as the material is turned, during the progress of the elevating portion.

mechanism in the direction indicated by the arrow (Fig. 5), and thence drops away from contact with the fingers 11.8, it is restrained by the fingers 13:? from falling or discu gagment Ltrom the chain until in its descent it comes in contact with the guides 131 and is thence discharged onto the tloor.

By virtue of the step by step movement in the travel of the material and the manner of discharge herein described, when quickdrying. liquids are used in treating it, such material has an opportunity to become thoroughly dried by the time it is discharged upon the guides 131- and thence upon the floor 135; also that it is so discharged with th unpainted side down and is then ready to be moved away for shipment or storage without danger o1 rubbing of the painted lvl oreovcr, it the treated surface rested upon the fingers 118 during the whole of the travel, those portions cont acting with such fingers would not have an opportunity to become as thoroughly dried as the pot tions exposed to the atmosphere.

As a means' lor giving a step by step movoinentto the elevating mechanism shown in plan Fig. 4 and side elevation Fig. 5, that is, allowing it to move only the distance be tween two oi the scries of fingers 118, on a singlcimpulsc. 'l have providcd the mechanism which is shown in plan in Fig. -l-. in side elevation in Fig. in enlarged detail in l igs. (3 and $1 to 12. From an lnspcction of the figures it is observable that. for throwing the mechanism into and out o1 action I make use of a rocking lcver1=l0 pivoted upon the actuating rod 111 at one end as indicated at 1-11. and at the other end as indicated at I l-2. to the clntcl actuating rod 143 which tcrmilmtcs in a bitlircatcd portion 14 t engaging the grooved collar 1-13 on the shaft 123. Actuation ot the rod 1.1 in the direction indicated by the arrow (Fig. 4:) moves the rod 1 13 in the direction indicated by the arrow (l ie'. (l). forces the ('ol lar 1415 to the right against the cone 14-7. mounted in a yoke 14o, moving the face 147* of the cone into contact with the lever l t-fl which in turn operates the cam 14$) adapted to tighten the spring collar 150 upon the hub of the sprocket 124. As this collar is [ixcd against rotation relatively to the shaft 12 the actuation just descrihcd causes. the shnt't. 123 to drive the procket. 124. For the purpose of allowing a ready automatic oncnim: of the clutch by simple mechanism, tho yoke 1 11' is in turn pivoted in a yoke 15;: pivotally supported at one end 15H in a bracket 157 and, carried at the other end in the slotted head 158 of a pivoted supporting mcmbc 159, said supporting member being rovided with a tripping-device 'li'lO pivotally mount ed thereupon and having a screw 1111 whereby the angularily of the mounting' o1 llic tripping device relatively to the supporting ios &

' lever may be varied and the respective ends of the fingers 118 and of the guides 117 be brought into position and alined to insure the delivery of the material from the guides to the fingers upon actuation of'the removing device by the lever 110. To prevent the tripping device from descending to a posi tion where the finger supports 119 would not strike it and throw out the clutch mechanism above described, I provide on the supporting member 159, a stop 162, and to insure the disengagement of the tripping device from such finger support, the pivot point 163 should be so located as to free the end of the device 160, when the clutch is thrown out, and allow the device 160 to descend. From the foregoing description it will-be understood that when the actuating rod 111 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow, the drying mechanism will lift thematerial resting upon fingers 118 on the supports 119 and continue such movement until one of such finger supports contacts 'with the tripping device 160, when supporting member 159 will move to the position shown in Fig. 6', the clutch device-above described will be thrown out and the drying mechanism remain inactive until the actuatingod 111 is again moved in the direction indicated by the arrow.

It is believed that machines embodying my present inventions, and the mode of operation thereof, will be understood without ceivmg and susta1ning said material as it comes from the conveyer, means for driving said moving means and conveyer in unison,.

means for removing the treated material from said conveyer to sald drying apparatus, and means for actuating said removing means and said drying apparatus simultaneously.

2. In combination with a machine for treating moving material, means positioned for receiving the treated material as it comes in one direction from said machine and arranged for discharging such material in another direction to a drying apparatus, and a drying apparatus having primary means for receiving the treated material as it is discharged from said receiving means, secondary means for receiving the material as it passes from said primary means, and means for imparting motion to said drying apparatus in synchronism with said receiving'and discharging means.

3. In combination with a machine for treating moving material and delivering it treated side down, a dryingapparatus having means for receiving and sustaining the treated material as it is discharged from the machine in such position, and-thereafter delivering it treated side up, mechanism for driving said machine "and apparatus in unison, and means for imparting motion to said driving mechanism.

4:- A drying apparatus having aseries of fingers for receiving treated material, conveying the same, and reversing the position thereof, a second series of fingers for receivmentioned fingers and sustaining and deliver-ing it in such reversed position, driving mechanism for said apparatus, and means for im arting motion to said driving mechanism adapted to be actuated through a limit,- ed portion of the movement of said drying mechanism;

5. In combination with a machine for treating material having means for moving material therethrough and delivering it substantially horizontally, a substantially ver-- tical drying apparatus for receiving the treated material, means for driving 'said moving means and drying apparatus in unison or said moving means alone, means for removing the treated material substantially horizontally from said machine to said dry;

ing apparatus, and means for controlling the actuation of said driving means whereby a step by step movement is given said drying apparatus Without varying the movement of said moving means.'-

6. In combination with a machine for treatingmaterial and delivering it substantially horizontally treated side down, a drying apparatus having means for receiving the treated material as it is discharged from.

said machine treated side down and thereafter delivering it treated slde up, delivery guides between said machine and said reing the material as it passes from said first ceivin means mechanism ada ted to ive said apparatus a :step by step movement whereby it may receive material from. sald guides, and means for alining the said guides .and receiving means at the end of each movement of the drying'apparatus.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of the two subscribed witnesses.

CLIFTQN F. LEATHERBEE. Witnesses:

PAUL CARPENTER, WM. J. REX. 

